Welcome to the British Carriage Dog Society
The Society exists to help preserve this working heritage of the Dalmatian as a coaching dog. In past centuries Dalmatians would often accompany horses and carriages on their travels. They acted as guards and decoration, protected the passengers, reassured the horses and killed vermin in the stables each night. The Dalmatian is an endurance dog and its efficient trot enables it to cover long distances without tiring.
The Society runs the annual national Carriage Dog Trials. The trials test and demonstrate the Dalmatian's traditional role as a companion to ridden and driven horses. The trials demand both control and fitness, as dogs are judged on their obedience and capacity for endurance. Our principal trials sponsor is Fenix Carriages and we are immensely grateful for their continued support.
Follow the Society on Facebook here
Why not join the Society and support our work - just £9 per annum - click Membership
If you'd like to get started with your Dalmatian please contact Alison Burgess.
Miranda Purves with Splash - Gold Carriage Dog and 2013 Carriage Dog Champion. Third time lucky for Splash. ON her first attempt, she sadly scuffed a pad on the endurance course after passing her gold obedience test. In 2012 the endurance element of the trials had to be cancelled after Miranda had trained yet again for Gold. This year the team qualified in flying colours. Miranda drove one of her Fell ponies Harry and Laura Fraser groomed.
Alison Burgess with Tally showing a turn of speed - Gold Road Dog and 2013 Road Dog Champion. Alison too was thwarted by the weather in her attempt for Gold last year, but succeeded this year riding her cob Jacko.
LATEST
The BCDS had a stand at Dogslive Saturday 21st June. Here are some of or visitors.
Alison Burgess driving Jacko to her round back gig, with husband Tim grooming and Tally demonstrating the role of the carriage dog at this year's London Harness Horse Parade.
The Midlands Training Day participants all looking pretty pleased with themselves after a successful day's training and instinct tests. Back row l to r: Ekko (Norwegian Fjord), Ali Rummey (trainer), Alison Burgess (trainer), Jane Stretton driving a Fenix with Harry (Welsh Section D). Front row l to r: Anne Finlay with Fanny and Thomas, Kate Lockwood with Poppy , Fiona Hartley with Elsa, Fay Moffat-Roberts with Louis, Tim Lockett with Dimmers and Cuba, Sue Beaman with Ellie, Josiane Kaal with Lemmie.
Wendy Ridly with Hugo joined Alison Burgess for a nine mile promenade at this year's Windsor drive. What a lovely setting to show off the working carriage dog.
Giselle and Tim Lockett's three - Dimmers, Cuba and Louis - practising in the Wyre Forest, with Giselle driving Mork.
THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL FENIX CARRIAGE DOG TRIALS - NEW DATE! 6th-7th September 2014.
Never been to a carriage dog trial? This is the year for you. The National Trials is the highlight of the BCDS year and it showcases the dogs at the very pinnacle of training. But we also want it to be a weekend for those just starting out with their road and carriage dogs, so we have made some changes to the weekend which we hope will reflect this better.
Have a go Sunday You want to have a go, but don’t know where to start? You would really like to see if your dog has the instinct for following the horse? You feel ready to try an obedience round, without the pressure of competition? Or would you just like to know more about the trials, the endurance course, how the dogs are vetted and how to get your dog fit to have a go? Sunday 7th September is dedicated to you. Experienced competitors will be asked to buddy up with a novice for the Sunday morning, to accompany them and tell them all the things they really wanted to know but have never had a chance to ask.
An Autumn Trials
The National Trials have been re-scheduled to later in the year. We decided to change the date to allow more time during the year for regional trials, for training days, and for developing new ventures. We also wanted to extend the period for prospective competitors to get their dogs and horses fit for the trials, whilst avoiding what can often be the hottest time of the year.
The Western Group practising for a display for the local Riding Club. Looking good.
And here are the Western Group in all their finery doing the display. L-R Mork driven by Giselle Lockett, groom Marianne Taylor with Dalmatian Molly. Mr Darcy driven by David Smith with groom Jane and Tim Lockett handling his dogs Louis and Dimmers. Far right is Julie Wedgebury driving Ronnie with groom Jill Bache at his head and Sue Beaman and her Dalmatian Benson, being interviewed for the spectators by husband Raul.
Carriage Dog Champion Spin is featured in the month of March in the 2014 Carriage Driving Magazine Calendar - here she is with her owner Avril Pluck and whip Felicity Stubbs at the Picton Castle Carriages at the Castle event in 2013. Photo: Antony Reynolds.
2013 National Trials results here
With thanks to Paul Tester and www.swingletreephotos.photoshelter.com for the pics.
More here.
2013 National Trials pictures You can see from the faces of some of the dogs out on the course that it was a very hot weekend this year. The canine and equine vets were particularly careful about checking all the animals for stress and extra rest periods were advised where necessary.
Best Condition Dog 2013 - for the second time - Silver Road Dog Dynamite owned by Kelly Evans, here out on the course with Kelly riding her show jumper Jonas.
Bronze Road Dog Gemma cools down in the water obstacle on the endurance course after passing her Road Dog obedience test - owner Vicky Brennan rides Elma.
Chris Cleland's Ozzy passed his Silver Carriage Dog test with Mandy Hawley driving Simon. Simon is often used by our principle sponsor Fenix carriage's own Mark Broadbent in a team for his coach.
Julie Swindells drives Emma with Dalmatians Clover, who passed her Gold Carriage Certificate, and Rolex, who qualified as a Gold Carriage Dog, behind and husband Phil grooming.
Fay Moffat-Roberts rides Smudge with Tim and Giselle Lockett's rescue Dalmatian Louie on a lead with Kay Martland on Nat behind.
Josi Kaal as groom handler with Vicky Brennan driving Elma and Celsie out on the endurance course after passing her Bronze Carriage Dog (Groom Handler) obedience test.
Vicky Brennan practising with her bitch Gemma on the Sunday after the trials with Josi Kaal grooming - Vicky qualified Gemma as a Bronze Road Dog at the Trials.
The link to BBC1 'The One Show' shown on 23rd August 2011 and featuring Dalmatians has been restored. If you missed it first time round, watch it here here.
Ever thought about joining the DaliMiles club?
Now DaliMiles has a new target - the 2,000 mile challenge to become a Galloping Dali. Jasper and Amber have! Have fun recording your dog's mileage when out walking, running, cycling, riding or driving and work your way through the levels. Click here for more information.
Paul Tester has a site with many photos from the Nationals and numerous other BCDS events - you can see more of his pictures [here http://www.flickr.com/photos/dotty_dalmations/]
Some pics of carriage dogs at work over the years. Lots more on the events pages!
Alison Burgess drives Jacko in her Fenix vehicle on a local drive in Spring 2013 on the lovely woodlined lanes in Ripe, East Sussex with Jordan Humble grooming and Tally working behind.
Paul Tester drives Widget with Celia Gilbert grooming and her rescue dog Harley after completing an eight mile drive with the Weald Harness Club in Kent in 2013.
Domino and Levi display behind Maura Reade's Widget at the National Ploughing Championships in Athy, Co Kildare in Ireland, one of Europe's largest agricultural shows.
Carriage Dogs Skittle, Fenris and Munin all took to the Working Horse Trust at the end of July 2011 to do a display of the working carriage dog with working draft horses. The WHT is a charity dedicated to preserving and promoting the heavy horse breeds of this country and Europe. Here is Fenris working with Nobel.
Download a video of Fenris working with Nobel here
In the Cotswolds Felicity Mee took out hunter Bruce with her Dalmatian Lucky and friend Chris Carruthers on Chester to be part of the 2011 1001 ride and raise funds for Dalmatian Welfare.
Julie Swindells' three Dalmatians trotting behind l-r Clover, Fern, Rolex, with Merlin (right) owned by the carriage driver Roy Pennington. What a fabulous wedding photo for the happy couple Diane and James married in May 2011 in Thelkeld near Keswick in Cumbria.
2013 Carriage Dog Champion - Splash - waits patiently behind her owner Miranda Purves' Park Drag awaiting its passengers." Full story click
here.
The Dashing Dalmatians line up in one of the routines to music from Abba at Paws in the Park in 2009.
Avril Pluck drives Louis with three times Carriage Dog Champion Spinner behind demonstrating whip handling at the Hand equestrian display in Somerset in 2009.
Competitors and friends relaxing at Kilkea Lodge farm after the 2011 Irish Trials.
Tally owned by Alison Burgess in the speed exercise at the SE Trials in 2009.
Couldn't resist including this lovely picture of Pippa Ellen's Mini Shetland pair Pumpkin (foreground) and Annie, who tackled the 2011 SE Trials endurance course in style and in time!
Best Condition Dog 2011 Silver Road Dog Dynamite owned by Kelly Evans riding Jonas.
Spin owned by Avril Pluck displaying her 1st place rosette from the Carriage Dog class at the BDS North Wales Spring Show 2011.
Splash behind Miranda Purves' Bennington carriage passing Fenris and Freya (left) with Anne Dickens driving Parker at the Paws in the Park carriage dog display 2009.
Ron and Maggie Gallop's Mr Darcy trots behind his carriage at the BDS' Concours D'Attelage de Tradition at Helmingham Hall in Suffolk. Read more about this event [
here]
The Western gang: Benson with Sue, Ollie with Smudge and Fay, Buttons with Lester and Denise, Ruby with John, Holly with Karen, Daisy-Mae with Susan, Cato with Neil and Pat, Molly with Marianne, Neo with The Smith Family, Kobi with Michael, Smudge with Jane, Misty and Amber (the Lab) with Peter.
1900 Jane Friend with Gold Carriage Dog Merlot in attendance drives Rosie in her governess cart at the Hand Carriage Driving Extravaganza in 2009.
John Wilmot with his young dog Ruby show us all how to get around properly in the snow! John is grooming for his son Maurice who is driving pony Dinky - they were all enjoying the snow at Tatton Park Knutsford, Cheshire. Ruby is a very versatile carriage, sledge and dancing dog.
Gold Carriage Dog Fenris with Anne Dickens as passenger on Donna Simmons Phaeton with her Dales Axle in front at the London Harness Horse Parade at the South of England Show Ground, Sussex.
Parker and Polo, driven by Anne Dickens and with Gold Carriage Dog Fenris in attendance, reprise their roles as reindeer in a charity delivery on Christmas Day morning delivering presents to children in the local village in return for a donation to Driving for the Disabled group. The team raised £300 for the group which, thanks to Dalmatian owner Celia Gilbert, will be doubled by Barclays bank. Polo and Parker with Brian King (Father Xmas), Crosbie (the helpful elf!) and Fenris waiting for the off.
What fun it would be to enter a carriage dog trials driving a zebra or two as the spots and stripes team!
Anne Dickens had a lesson in logging from Kitty, a lovely young Ardennes mare at the Working Horse Trust. Munin and Fenris decided they were working logging dogs; as Anne drove Kitty up and down the paths in the woods moving whole tree trunks, they followed dutifully behind.
